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Glossary of summaries

European Research Area (ERA)

The European Research Area (ERA) is a unified research area open to the world based on the Internal market, in which researchers, scientific knowledge and technology circulate freely. This concept was originally launched by the European Commission in 2000. Article 179 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union establishes a clear legal basis for the creation of a European Research Area (ERA).

The ERA reform agenda focuses on the following 5 priorities:

More effective national research systems.

Optimal transnational co-operation and competition (on common research agendas, grand challenges and infrastructures).

An open labour market for researchers (removing barriers to international mobility, open recruitment, innovative doctoral training, Human Resources Strategies in line with the European Charter & Code for Researchers, mobility between industry and academia).

Gender equality and gender mainstreaming in research (encouraging gender diversity to foster science excellence and relevance).

Optimal circulation and transfer of scientific knowledge (to guarantee access to and uptake of knowledge by all).

The ERA Progress Report, monitors progress in all EU countries and associated countries every 2 years.

Information about and results of EU-funded research projects is available in CORDIS (Community Research and Development Information Service), a public repository and portal, originally set up in 1990 by the European Commission. It is funded by the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development.